Endoscope Tip Position Visual Indicator and Heat Management System

摘要

The present specification discloses an endoscope having a tip section equipped with multiple viewing elements. Each of the viewing elements' field of view is illuminated by a discrete illuminator, such as a LED, being operated in a flash mode. The flash mode of operation of the LEDs enable doctors to obtain a position of the endoscope tip within a patient's body from outside by viewing the light emitted by the LEDs. Since the light is emitted for short pre-defined periods of time, the heat generated by the LEDs during their periods of operation is within a safe threshold value, and does not cause any burn injury inside the patient's body.

主权项

1. A system for managing heat generated in a tip of an endoscope, comprising:
a controller external to the endoscope, wherein said controller comprises a memory for storing programmatic functions and a processor for executing said programmatic functions; an input device in data communication with said controller, wherein said input device is adapted to receive data indicative of a programmatic function and wherein said input device is configured to communicate said data indicative of a programmatic function to the controller; and, a plurality of discrete illuminators positioned within said tip and in electrical communication with said controller, wherein each of said plurality of discrete illuminators emits an amount of visible light and wherein said controller executes a programmatic function based upon said data indicative of a programmatic function that causes at least one of said plurality of discrete illuminators to modulate an amount of visible light emitted by it in accordance with said programmatic function.